John Pasquale Williams

John Pasquale Williams, 75, Local business and family man., John Pasquale Williams passed away at his home in Gladwyne, Pa., on September 1, 2012, with his wife and son by his side. He was 75 years old, and the cause of death was lung cancer. A regular squash player at his beloved Merion Cricket Club, Mr. Williams emerged from a far different environment. Born in Palmerton, Pa., he was son of David Williams Jr., a railroad laborer, and Natalie Lerro Williams, a homemaker and garment worker. His early years were split between South Philadelphia, where his aunt still runs a candy store, and Lehighton, Pa. After he graduated from Lehighton High School, matriculation at Villanova University brought him to the Main Line, and he never left. His bachelor's degree was followed by a master's at the same institution. Although he worked for several large corporations in the '60s, he created John P. Williams & Company, Inc., in 1969 after presciently observing that self-employment provided the best job security. Originally a marketing firm, the business had several incarnations and prospered for 40 years. Mr. Williams had an enduring relationship with his brother, David Williams III, Ph.D., now of Sun Lakes, Az.. The two were living together in Philadelphia more than a half-century ago when Mr. Williams met his future wife, Clara Jane Ruble, on a blind date. They married in June 1962 and spent the next 50 years at three residences within a mile of Gladwyne's center. Daughter Jennifer was born in 1963, and son John followed in 1968. Throughout their youths, he championed the principles of morality, hard work, and excellence. Today, Jennifer is a cardiologist living outside of Baltimore, Md., and John is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist in Bryn Mawr, Pa. Mr. Williams was avid photographer and intellectual, with a focus on 20th century European and American history, but his interests were widespread, ranging from cosmology to the Italian language. In his final decade, he reprised his parental role, playing a major part in the character development of his grandchildren. He is survived by his brother David, wife C. Jane, his children Jennifer and John, his daughter-in-law Ellen Delea, and his five grandchildren, Lila, Rachel, John, Michael, and Hugh. His memorial funeral mass will be held at 11AM on Sat. Sept. 15th, 2012, in St. John Vianney Church, at the corner of Conshohocken State and Youngsford Roads, Gladwyne, Pa., where you may call after 9:30 AM. The interment is private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Polio Eradication Effort of Rotary International, payable to: Ardmore Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 5, Ardmore, PA 19003. Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home, Inc. www.chadwickmckinney.com